WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1980
IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT THE TRAINING COUNCIL WAS THE BEST BODY TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON ALL MATTERS CONCERNING INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
+WE SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEA OF A GENERAL LEVY- IT WAS OUR WAY OF PAYING IN A VERY MATERIAL SENSE SOMETHING MORE THAN LIP-SERVICE. OUR SCHEME WAS BOTH FLEXIBLE AND OPEN.
+NOW, HOWEVER, POLICY IS APPARENTLY SET ON A NEW COURSE AND PROPOSES A STRAIGHT BLOCK GRANT.
+ MIGHT PUT IT THIS WAY: THE GOVERNMENT HAS EFFECTED SOMETHING WHICH EVEN MRS THATCHER HAS AVOIDED IT HAS EFFECTED A 'U' TURN.+
DR TIEN CONCLUDED BY BORROWING A FEW WORDS FROM SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL, MODIFIED TO APPLY TO THE ENTERPRISE OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING +A FEW MISGUIDED PEOPLE SEE IT AS A TARGET TO BE SHOT, OTHERS AS A COW TO BE MILKED, BUT A FEW AMONG US SEE IT AS A STURDY HORSE PULLING THE WAGGON OF INDUSTRY.+
BUT HE ADDED: +1 WILL AGREE TO SUPPORT THE MOTION BECAUSE I AM AT LEAST PLEASED THAT A FIRM DECISION ON A MATTER OF SUCH IMPORTANCE HAS AT LAST BEEN TAKEN.+
STUDENTS NEED GOOD INFLUENCE OF TEACHERS
****
THE HON ALEX WU CALLED ON TEACHERS TO EXERCISE A GREATER GOOD INFLUENCE ON THE IR STUDENTS.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, HE QUESTIONED HOW MANY OF THE STUDENTS PASSING THROUGH OUR SCHOOLS NOWADAYS WOULD LOOK BACK ON TEACHERS WHO WERE MORE THAN CHANNELS OF
INFORMATION, WHO INSPIRED RESPECT, ADMIRATION AND EMULATION.+
HE SAID MAYBE THIS +MR CHIPS+ CONCEPT WOULD BE THOUGHT TO BE SOMETHING FOR THE ELITE, TOO FANCY FOR THE WORKADAY TASKS OF PUSHING A MILLION AND A HALF CHILDREN THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
+MAYBE BUT WE NEED NOT ACCEPT THAT TEACHERS IN HONG KONG HAVE NO PART TO PLAY IN FORMING THE CHARACTER OF THE IR PUPILS.
+OUR CHINESE CONCEPT OF EDUCATION ACCEPTS THAT CORRECT BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDES CAN AND SHOULD BE INCULCATED AND THAT THIS IS A PROPER PART OF EDUCATION,+ HE SAID.
MR WU WAS COMMENTING ON THE TWO-FOLD INCREASE IN CRIMES COMMITTED BY YOUNGSTERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF SEVEN AND 15.
HE HOPED THE STUDY INTO JUVENILE CRIME BY THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE WOULD GIVE US SOME DIRECTION FOR CONSTRUCTIVE ACTION.
BUT MEANWHILE, HE SAID, HE COULD NOT HELP WONDERING HOW THIS FRIGHTENING DEVELOPMENT RELATES TO THE STATE OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.